Virachola thanlwina

Virachola thanlwina Saito & Inayoshi, 2024


♂ (dsf), 1995.09.21. Shan State, Myanmar. (Holotype)		♂ (dsf), Shan State, Myanmar. (Paratype)

♂ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Paratype)		♂ (dsf), Houaphan, Laos. (Paratype)

♂, Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Paratype)		♂ genitalia, Shan State, Myanmar. (Holotype)

ON : Virachola thanlwina Saito & Inayoshi, 2024
OD : Butterflies 94:12-13, figs.20(HT,♂), 20v(HT,♂Un),
21(PT,♀), 21v(PT,♀Un), 22(PT,♂), 22v(PT,♂Un),
32a-d(♂genitlia), 33a-d(♂genitalia), 34,d,e(♂brand).
TL : 60km west of Taunggyi, Shan, NE.Myanmar. (RIEB)

Distribution : Myanmar, Thailand, Laos.

Type Materials Information

Holotype ♂, 21.Sep.1995, 60 km west of Taunggyi, Shan, NE.Myanmar. LC (RIEB, examined.)
Paratypes:
Myanmar: 2♂ 1♀, same locality as holotype. (RIEB, examined.); 8♂, Thandaung, Karen. (RIEB, examined.); Laos: 4♂, Xam Neua, Houaphan. (in coll. K.Saito, examined.);
Thailand: 5♂, Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai Dist; Samoeng Dist; Omkoi Dist.). (in coll. Y.Inayoshi, examined.); 1♂, Mae Hong Son Dist., Mae Hong Son. (in coll. Y.Inayoshi, examined.)

Records taken from Literature

[ THAILAND ]
Rapala refulgens ; Pinratana,1981 : 150, pl.33, figs.14,♂,15,♂(Un). (Chiang Mai)
Virachola refulgens ; Seki & Saito,2006 : 40. (Chiang Mai)
Rapala refulgens ; Ek-Amnuay et al.,2007 : 5, figs.L417,♂,♀. (Doi Suthep)
Virachola refulgens ; Ek-Amnuay,2012 : 752, pl.345, figs.L422,♂,♂(Un),♂,♀. ('Doi Inthanon; Loei: Phu Luang')
Virachola refulgens ; Kimura et al.,2014 : 134, figs.♂,♂(Un). (Doi Suthep)
Virachola refulgens ; S.Sophonviwatkul, C.Sunthornwiphat & T.Laola,2022- : Butterflies of Thailand, fig. (Chiang Mai) (accessed: 2023.11.10)

[ LAOS ]
Rapala refulgens ; Osada, Uémura & Uehara,1999 : 219. pl.127, figs.♂,♂(Un),♀. (Xiang Khouang; Phong Saly)
Virachola refulgens ; Seki & Saito,2006 : 40, figs.9,♂(genitalia),22,♂,38,♂(Un). (Xamneua)
Virachola refulgens ; Nakamura & Wakahara,2012 : 56.

Specimens Examined

[ MYANMAR ]
Shan State (Thaunggyi) : 3♂ 1♀ (Holotype & Paratypes), (1♂ genitalia dissected).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Karen State (Thandaung) : 8♂ (Paratypes).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

[ THAILAND ]
Mae Hong Son : 1♂ (Paratype).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Chiang Mai : 7♂ (incl. Paratypes), (2♂ genitalia dissected).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

[ LAOS ]
Houaphan : 5♂ (incl. Paratypes), (1♂ genitalia dissected).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Notes

The butterfly is locally not rare in montane forests at moderate elevations (Alt. 800 - 1300m) and is occasionally found at hilltops.
This taxon has long been confused with Virachola refulgens from Nepal, India and N.Myanmar.

Literature

Seki, Y. & Saito, K.,2006 : Four New Species of Lycaenidae from Vietnam (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).
Butterflies 42 : 38-45.

Saito, K. & Inayoshi, Y.,2024 : Descriptions of four new species and two new subspecies of Lycaenidae from Thailand and Vietnam.
Butterflies 94:4-14.

♂, Chiang Mai, Thailand. (photo by R.Charoenpon)

2024.09.30.